Spring-loaded hinge assembly for vehicle accessories

ABSTRACT

A hinge assembly is disclosed which is particularly well suited for vehicle accessory applications, such as for pivotally interconnecting vanity doors with vanity housing structures for example. The hinge assembly, which is also applicable for other applications, includes a pivot pivotally interconnecting first and second members for relative rotational movement about a longitudinal axis, with a cam on the first member protruding in a generally lateral direction to engage a resilient biasing springs on the second member. The resilient biasing springs, which is preferably a leaf spring, is slidably engaged and resiliently deflected by the cam on the first member and exerts a resilient biasing force on the cam in a generally lateral direction, generally toward the pivot axis. The cam preferably includes one or more dwell portions such that the spring or other resilient biasing springs tends to resiliently and releasably maintain the first and second members in one or more predetermined relative rotational orientations when engaged by the dwell portions on the cam.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to hinge assemblies for hingedor pivotally interconnected members, and more particularly to such hingeassemblies especially adapted for pivotally interconnecting a vehicleaccessory door with a vehicle accessory housing structure or otherportion of the interior of a vehicle. Such vehicle accessory doorsinclude vanity doors, storage compartment doors or other accessorycovers. Hinge assemblies according to the present invention can also beemployed for various non-vehicular uses, as will be readily appreciatedby one skilled in the art from the following discussion.

The typical vehicle includes a wide variety of hinged or pivotallymounted vehicle accessories or accessory covers in the interior, luggagestorage areas, engine compartment, or other areas. In the past, however,many hinge assemblies for such vehicular applications, as well as thosefor various non-vehicular applications, either have not beensufficiently durable or have been relatively expensive to produce andinstall. Furthermore, many of such prior hinge assemblies have beenfound to be inordinately bulky, unsightly, or ill-fitting, all of whichdetract from the user's perception of quality with regard to the vehicleor other device in which such hinge assemblies are included.

In addition to the above disadvantages, many prior hinge assemblies havenot provided the user with relatively rotated or pivoted positions inwhich the hinged members can be held and maintained, especially afterextended use and wear of the hinge components. One example of the priorart wherein such a feature has been provided, however, is anover-center, spring-and-lever arrangement, such as that shown in U.S.Pat. Nos. 4,491,899; 4,227,242; and 4,000,404. Another example is anarrangement having a coil spring with its opposite ends interconnectedwith opposite hinged members in order to bias the two hinge memberstoward one another in a mutual sliding arrangement. This hingearrangement does not have a pivot pin or other member pivotallyinterconnecting the hinged members and thus the spring functions both asa resilient biasing member for resiliently biasing the hinged memberstoward one another and as a "fastener" for securing the hinged memberstogether. These arrangements have been found to have variousdisadvantages in terms of durability, performance, complexity, orexpense of manufacture. The need has therefore arisen for a hingeassembly of the type described herein, which is simple and inexpensiveto produce, assemble and install, that is highly durable, and that iscapable of maintaining the hinged member in one or more relativerotational or pivotal orientations, such as in open and closedpositions, for example.

According to the present invention, a spring-loaded hinge assembly isprovided for interconnecting first and second relatively rotatablemembers in a hinged relationship with respect to one another. Such ahinge assembly includes a pivot pin or other pivot means for pivotallyinterconnecting the first and second members for relative rotationalmovement about a generally longitudinally-extending axis and a camprotruding in a generally lateral direction from one of the first orsecond members for rotational relative movement therewith. A spring orother resilient biasing means on the other of the first or secondmembers is slidably engaged and resiliently deflected by the cam inorder to exert a resilient biasing force on the cam in a generallylateral direction generally toward the longitudinal axis, thus tendingto bias the hinged members generally in opposite directions away fromone another. Preferably, the resilient biasing means includes a leafspring secured to one of the first or second members, with the leafspring being laterally and resiliently deflected by the cam on the othermember during at least a portion of the rotational movement of themember.

Preferably, the above-mentioned cam has at least one dwell portionthereon for engaging the leaf spring or other resilient biasing means ata corresponding predetermined, relative rotational orientation of thefirst and second members with respect to one another. In such anarrangement, the resilient biasing means tends to resiliently andreleasably maintain the first and second members in the predeterminedrelative rotational orientation when engaged by the dwell portion of thecam.

In still another preferred hinge arrangement according to the presentinvention, the cam can have at least a pair of the dwell portionsthereon, with a laterally-enlarged lobe portion disposed between thedwell portions. In this arrangement, the dwell portions engage theresilient biasing means at a corresponding pair of predeterminedrelative rotational orientations of the first and second members, suchas in preselected open and closed orientations for example, in order toresiliently and releasably maintain the first and second members in eachof the predetermined orientations. Preferably the resilient biasingmeans is resiliently and laterally deflected by the cam to a greaterextent when engaged by the laterally-enlarged lobe portion of the camthan when engaged by either of the dwell portions of the cam, and thelaterally-enlarged lobe portion of the cam has a rounded configuration.This preferred arrangement causes the resilient biasing means to tend toforcibly urge or "self-propel" the first and second members into one ofthe predetermined relative rotational orientations when the resilientbiasing means is engaged by the rounded and laterally-enlarged lobeportion of the cam.

In specific applications of the hinge assembly described above, the camcan be disposed on an accessory door for rotational movement therewithrelative to an accessory housing structure. In such an arrangement, theleaf spring or other resilient biasing means is disposed on the housingstructure for engagement with the cam on the door, as explained above.Alternately, the cam can be disposed on the housing structure, and theleaf spring or other resilient biasing means can be disposed on theaccessory door for rotational movement therewith relative to the housingstructure. In any of the embodiments discussed above, a first movablemember is hinged or pivotally interconnected with a fixed or movablespeed member and is preferably resiliently urged and substantiallyself-propelled into one of the above-mentioned predetermined rotationalorientations relative to the second member whenever the hingedcomponents are moved to relative rotational orientations in closeproximity with one of the predetermined relative rotational orientationsat which the cam dwell portion or portions engage the leaf spring orother resilient biasing means.

Additional objects, advantages and features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following description and appended claims,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary visor assembly for theinterior of a vehicle, with the visor having a vanity assembly and ahinge assembly according to the present invention for pivotallyinterconnecting the vanity door with the vanity housing structure.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of an exemplary vehicle seat havinga vanity assembly on the rear side thereof, with a hinge assemblyaccording to the present invention pivotally interconnecting the vanitydoor with the vanity housing structure.

FIG. 3 is a partial view of a preferred vanity assembly of FIG. 1, in aclosed position, showing the hinge assembly in hidden lines.

FIG. 4 is a partial top view of the assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 5--5 of FIG.3.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 6--6 of FIG.3.

FIG. 7 is a partial view of an alternate vanity assembly, similar tothat of FIG. 1, in a closed position with portions broken away to revealthe components of an alternate hinge assembly.

FIG. 8 is a partial exploded perspective view of the hinge portion ofthe vanity assembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 9--9 of FIG.7.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 10--10 ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 11--11 ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 12--12 ofFIG. 7, with the vanity door shown in a closed position.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 12, but showing thevanity door rotated to an open position.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along line 14--14 ofFIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1 through 14 illustrate various embodiments of hinge assembliesaccording to the present invention, which are shown incorporated in anexemplary application for a vanity door of a vanity assembly on one sideof a vehicle sun visor, as well as illustrating a similar vanityassembly for the rear side of a vehicle seat. One skilled in the artwill readily recognize from the discussion, claims and drawings herein,however, that the principles of the present invention are equallyapplicable to hinge assemblies other than those shown in FIGS. 1 through14, as well as in other vehicular or non-vehicular applications.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary sun visor 12 pivotally interconnectedwith a pivot rod 14 adapted for mounting in the interior of a vehicle(not shown). A vanity assembly 20 is mounted on one side of the sunvisor 12 and includes a vanity housing 22 and a hinged vanity door 24for enclosing a mirror 26 and illumination lights 28, for example.

In FIG. 2, a vehicle seat 16 includes a head restraint 18 interconnectedtherewith, with a vanity assembly 20A mounted on the rear side of thevehicle seat 16. The exemplary vanity assembly 20A includes a vanityhousing 22A and a hinged vanity door 24A for enclosing a mirror 26A andillumination lights 28A, or other such vehicular accessories. The vanityassemblies 20 and 20A shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, are merelyillustrative examples of suitable applications for one or more hingeassemblies according to the present invention for hingedly or pivotallyinterconnecting the vanity doors 24 and 24A with the vanity housings 22and 22A, respectively. One preferred embodiment of such a hinge assemblyaccording to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 3 through 6 and isdescribed in more detail below.

FIGS. 3 through 6 illustrate various detailed views of hinge assembly 30for hinged or pivotal interconnection of the vanity door 24 with thevanity housing 22, of FIG. 1. It should be noted that one or more of thehinge assemblies 30 can also be used for hinged or pivotalinterconnection of the vanity door 24A with the vanity housing 22A inFIG. 2, as well as in the other vehicular or non-vehicular applications.

The exemplary hinge assembly 30 includes one or more pivot bearingmembers 32 interconnected or integrally formed with the vanity door 24and having open portions 34 for insertion of a pivot rod or pin 50. Acam member 36 is also interconnected or integrally formed with thevanity door 24 and includes an open portion 38 for receiving the pivotrod or pin 50 extending longitudinally between the pivot bearing members32. The cam member 36 preferably includes one or more dwell portions 40and 42 and a lobe portion 44. The pivot pin 50, which extends in agenerally longitudinal direction, is received within the open portions34 and 38 of the pivot bearing members 32 and the cam member 36,respectively, in order to hingedly and pivotally interconnect the vanitydoor 24 with the vanity housing 22. Although the exemplary hingeassembly 30 is preferably composed of a molded synthetic or plasticmaterial, it should be noted that the various components of the hingeassembly 30 can alternately be composed of other suitable materials, andcan be constructed by other methods, as will be appreciated by oneskilled in the art.

It should be noted that the single pivot pin 50 shown in the exemplaryembodiments of the hinge assembly 30 depicted in the drawings can bereplaced by two or more pivot pins, each of which being received in oneof the bearing members 32. In such an arrangement, wherein a pair ofpivot pins are disposed on opposite sides of the cam member 36 in lieuof the single pivot pin 50 shown in the drawings, the open portion 38 ofthe cam member 36 can be eliminated if desired.

The vanity housing 22 of the preferred exemplary hinge assembly 30 alsoincludes a spring support portion 52, having a spring seat 54 thereon,for receiving and retaining a leaf spring 60 extending in a generallylongitudinal direction. In the hinge assembly 30 depicted in thedrawings, the leaf spring 60 is generally unsupported in a medicalportion between the associated spring seats 54 at opposite ends of theleaf spring 60. Thus, when the hinge assembly 30 is assembled, the leafspring 60 is slidably engaged and resiliently deflected by the cammember 36 during pivotal rotational movement of the vanity door 24relative to the vanity housing 22. The deflected leaf spring 60 exerts aresilient biasing force on the cam member 36 in a generally lateraldirection, generally toward the longitudinal axis of rotation extendingthrough the pivot pin 50, and thus also tends to resiliently bias thevanity door 24 and the vanity housing 22 in generally oppositedirections away from one another.

The leaf spring 60 functions to resiliently but releasably maintain thevanity door 24 in predetermined rotational orientations relative to thevanity housing 22 when the leaf spring 60 is engaged by the dwellportions 40 and 42 of the cam member 36. The laterally-enlarged lobeportion 44 of the cam member 36 preferably has either the narrowintersection of the dwell portions 40 and 42 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, oran optional rounded or arcuate shape, confronting the leaf spring 60.Thus, the resilient biasing force of the leaf spring 60 tends toresiliently and forcibly urge or self-propel the vanity door 20 towardor into one of such predetermined rotational orientations relative tothe vanity housing 22 when the leaf spring 60 is engaged by thelaterally-enlarged lobe portion 44. This effect results primarily fromthe fact that the leaf spring 60 is preferably resiliently deflected ina lateral direction to a greater extend when engaged by the lobe portion44 than when engaged by either of the dwell portions 40 or 42.

As a result of the arrangement discussed above, when the vanity door 24is manually rotated to rotational orientations in relatively closeproximity to the predetermined relative rotational orientationscorresponding to the positions of the dwell portions 40 and 42, theresilient biasing force of the leaf spring 60 tends to self-propel thevanity door portion into such predetermined relative rotationalorientations. Although such relative rotational orientations correspondto open and closed positions of the vanity door 24 in the hinge assembly30 depicted in the drawings, one skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that the dwell portions of the cam member in any givenapplication can be preselected to result in any number of otherpredetermined relative rotational orientations.

In addition to the above, it should also be noted that although theexemplary hinge assembly 30 depicted in the drawings includes the cammember 36 and the pivot bearing members 32 on the vanity door 24, withthe pivot pin 50, the leaf spring 60, and the related supportingcomponents on the vanity housing 22, one skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that this arrangement can alternately be reversed. In such areversed arrangement, the cam member 36 and the pivot bearing members 32would be disposed on the vanity housing 22, while the pivot pin 50, theleaf spring 60, and related supporting components would then be disposedon the vanity door 24. For purposes of convenient reference andsimplicity of the drawing figures, such reversed arrangement has notbeen explicitly shown in the drawings, but the configuration of thehinge components would be substantially identical to that shown in thedrawings in connection with the exemplary hinge assembly 30.

FIGS. 7 through 14 illustrate various detailed views of an alternateexemplary hinge assembly 130 for hinged or pivotal interconnection of avanity door 124 with a vanity housing 122, similar to that shown inFIG. 1. It should be noted that one or more of the hinge assemblies 130can be used for hinged or pivotal interconnection of a vanity door witha vanity housing similar to that shown in FIG. 2, as well as in othervehicular or non-vehicular applications.

The hinge assembly 130 includes one or more pivot bearing members 132interconnected with the vanity door 124 and having open portions 134 forinsertion of a pivot rod or pin (described below). A cam member 136 isalso interconnected or integrally formed with the vanity door 124 andincludes an open portion 138 for receiving a pivot rod or pin extendinglongitudinally between the pivot bearing members 132. The cam member 136preferably includes one or more dwell portions 140 and 142 and a lobeportion 144. As perhaps best seen in FIGS. 9 through 14, the exemplaryhinge assembly 130 is preferably composed of a molded synthetic orplastic material, and thus the cam member 136 can optionally be moldedwith a hollowed configuration, indicated by reference numeral 146. Itshould be noted that the various components of the hinge assembly 130can alternately be composed of other suitable materials, and can beconstructed by other methods, as will be appreciated by one skilled inthe art.

The vanity housing 122 includes one or more stanchions 148 protruding ina generally lateral direction to support a pivot pin 150, which extendsin a generally longitudinal direction. The pivot pin 150 is receivedwithin the open portions 134 and 138 of the pivot bearing members 132and the cam member 136, respectively, in order to hingedly and pivotallyinterconnect the vanity door 124 with the vanity housing 122.

Preferably, especially where the various components of the hingeassembly 130 are composed of molded plastic or other syntheticmaterials, the pivot pin 150 may be laterally urged and "snapped" intoplace in a pivotal engagement with the pivot bearing members 132.Alternately, as will now be appreciated by one skilled in the art, othersuitable retaining arrangements can be employed to retain the pivot pinin place in a pivotal engagement with the pivot bearing members 132. Inthis regard, it should further be noted that the single pivot pin 150shown in the exemplary embodiments of the hinge assembly 130 depicted inthe drawings can be replaced by two or more pivot pins, each of whichbeing supported by one or more of the stanchions 148 or other similarpin support arrangements. Where a pair of pivot pins are disposed onopposite sides of the cam member 136 in lieu of the single pivot pin 150shown in the drawings, the open portion 138 of the cam member 136 can beeliminated if desired.

The vanity housing 122 of the exemplary hinge assembly 130 also includesa pair of spring support members 152, each of which includes a springseat 154, and a pair of spring retainers 156 laterally spaced away fromthe spring seats 154 for receiving and retaining a leaf spring 160extending generally longitudinally therebetween. In the hinge assembly130 depicted in the drawings, the leaf spring 160 is generallyunsupported in a medial portion between the associated spring supportmembers 152 and spring retainer members 156 at opposite ends of the leafsprings 160. Thus, when the hinge assembly 130 is assembled, the leafspring 160 is slidably engaged and resiliently deflected by the cammember 136 during pivotal rotational movement of the vanity door 124relative to the vanity housing 122. The deflected leaf spring 160 exertsa resilient biasing force on the cam member 136 in a generally lateraldirection, generally toward the longitudinal axis of rotation extendingthrough the pivot pin 150.

As perhaps best seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, the leaf spring 160 tends toresiliently but releasably maintain the vanity door 124 in predeterminedrotational orientations relative to the vanity housing 122 when the leafspring 160 is engaged by the dwell portions 140 and 142 of the cammember 136. Conversely, because the laterally-enlarged lobe portion 144of the cam member 136 has a generally rounded configuration confrontingthe leaf spring 160, the resilient biasing force of the leaf spring 160tends to resiliently and forcibly urge or self-propel the vanity door120 into one of such predetermined rotational orientations relative tothe vanity housing 122 when the leaf spring 160 is engaged by thelaterally-enlarged lobe portion. This effect results from theabove-mentioned rounded configuration of the lobe portion 144 and fromthe fact that the leaf spring 160 is preferably resiliently deflected toa greater lateral extent when engaged by the lobe portion 144 than whenengaged by either of the dwell portions 140 or 142.

As a result of the arrangement discussed above, when the vanity door 124is manually rotated to rotational orientations in relatively closeproximity to the predetermined relative rotational orientationscorresponding to the positions of the dwell portions 140 and 142, theresilient biasing force of the leaf spring 160 tends to self-propel thevanity door portion into such predetermined relative rotationalorientations. Although such relative rotational orientations correspondto open and closed positions of the vanity door 124 in the hingeassembly 130 depicted in the drawings, one skilled in the art willreadily appreciate that the dwell portions of the cam member in anygiven application can be preselected to result in any number of otherpredetermined relative rotational orientations.

In addition to the above, it should also be noted that although theexemplary hinge assembly 130 depicted in the drawings includes the cammember 136 and the pivot bearing members 132 on the vanity door 124,with the pivot pin 150, the leaf spring 160, and their relatedsupporting components on the vanity housing 122, one skilled in the artwill readily appreciate that this arrangement can alternately bereversed. In such a reversed arrangement, the cam member 136 and thepivot bearing members 132 would be disposed on the vanity housing 122,while the pivot pin 150, the leaf spring 160, and their relatedcomponents would then be disposed on the vanity door 124. For purposesof convenient reference and simplicity of the drawing figures, suchreversed arrangement has not been explicitly shown in the drawings, butthe configuration of the hinge components would be substantiallyidentical to that shown in the drawings in connection with the exemplaryhinge assembly 130.

The foregoing discussion discloses and describes exemplary embodimentsof the present invention. One skilled in the art will readily recognizefrom such discussion and from the accompanying drawings and claims, thatvarious changes, modifications, and variations may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedin the following claims.

I claim:
 1. A spring-loaded hinge assembly for interconnecting anaccessory door with an accessory housing structure for a vehicle, saidhinge assembly comprising: pivot means pivotally interconnecting thedoor with the housing structure for rotational movement of the doorrelative to the housing structure about a longitudinally-extending axis;a cam member protruding in a generally lateral direction from the doorfor rotational movement therewith; said cam member having at least onedwell portion thereon; leaf spring means on the housing structure andslidably and resiliently deflectably engageable by said cam member forexerting a resilient biasing force on said cam member; and support meansinterconnected with the housing structure for supporting said leafspring means in a direction generally opposite the direction of saidengagement of said leaf spring means by said cam member, said supportmeans supporting said leaf spring means at least at two spaced-apartsupport locations thereon, said cam member deflectably engaging saidleaf spring means at a medial location thereon between said spaced-apartsupport locations, said leaf spring means tending to maintain the doorin a predetermined rotational orientation relative to the housingstructure when engaged by said dwell portion of said cam member.
 2. Ahinge assembly according to claim 1, wherein said leaf spring means issecured to the housing structure, said leaf spring means being laterallyand resiliently deflected by said cam member during at least a portionof said rotational movement of said cam member and the door relative tothe housing structure.
 3. A hinge assembly according to claim 1, whereinsaid cam member includes a laterally-enlarged lobe portion disposedgenerally adjacent said dwell portion, said leaf spring means beingresiliently and generally laterally deflected by said cam member to agreater extent when engaged by said laterally-enlarged lobe portion ofsaid cam member than when engaged by said dwell portion of said cammember.
 4. A hinge assembly according to claim 3, wherein said cammember includes at least a pair of said dwell portions, and saidlaterally-enlarged lobe portion of said cam member is disposed generallyat the intersection of said dwell portions in order to cause said leafspring means to tend to forcibly urge the door into said predeterminedrelative rotational orientation relative to the housing structure whensaid leaf spring means is engaged by said laterally-enlarged lobeportion.
 5. A hinge assembly according to claim 3, wherein said cammember includes at least a pair of said dwell portions thereon, saidlaterally-enlarged lobe portion being disposed between said dwellportions, said dwell portions engaging said leaf spring means at acorresponding pair of said predetermined relative rotationalorientations of the door and the housing structure, said leaf springmeans tending to resiliently and releasably maintain the door and thehousing structure in each of said predetermined relative rotationalorientations when engaged by the corresponding dwell portion of said cammember.
 6. A hinge assembly according to claim 5, wherein said leafspring means is secured to the housing structure, said leaf spring beinglaterally and resiliently deflected by said cam member during at least aportion of said rotational movement of said cam member and the doorrelative to the housing structure.
 7. A hinge assembly according toclaim 5, wherein the accessory housing structure is a vehicle windowvisor adapted for housing a vanity assembly, the door being pivotallyinterconnected to said visor for rotational movement between an openposition exposing said vanity assembly and a closed position coveringsaid vanity assembly, said predetermined relative rotationalorientations of the door relative to the visor corresponding to saidopen and closed door positions.
 8. A hinge assembly according to claim5, wherein the accessory housing structure is a vehicle head restraintadapted for housing a vanity assembly, the door being pivotallyinterconnected to said head restraint for rotational movement between anopen position exposing said vanity assembly and a closed positioncovering said vanity assembly, said predetermined relative rotationalorientations of the door relative to the head restraint corresponding tosaid open and closed door positions.
 9. A spring-loaded hinge assemblyfor interconnecting an accessory door with an accessory housingstructure for a vehicle, said hinge assembly comprising: pivot meanspivotally interconnecting the door with the housing structure forrotational movement of the door relative to the housing structure abouta longitudinally-extending axis; a cam member protruding in a generallylateral direction from the housing structure; said cam member having atleast one dwell portion thereon; leaf spring means disposed on the doorfor rotational movement therewith, said leaf spring means being slidablyand resiliently deflectably engageable by said cam member for exerting aresilient biasing force on said cam member; and support meansinterconnected with the door for supporting said leaf spring means in adirection generally opposite the direction of said engagement of saidleaf spring means by said cam member, said support means supporting saidleaf spring means at least at two spaced-apart support locationsthereon, said cam member deflectably engaging said leaf spring means ata medial location thereon between said spaced-apart support locations,said leaf spring means tending to maintain the door in a predeterminedrotational orientation relative to the housing structure when engaged bysaid dwell portion of said cam member.
 10. A hinge assembly according toclaim 9, wherein said leaf spring means is secured to the door, saidleaf spring means being laterally and resiliently deflected by said cammember during at least a portion of said rotational movement of said cammember and the door relative to the housing structure.
 11. A hingeassembly according to claim 9, wherein said cam member includes alaterally-enlarged lobe portion disposed generally adjacent said dwellportion, said leaf spring means being resiliently and generallylaterally deflected by said cam member to a greater extend when engagedby said laterally-enlarged lobe portion of said cam member than whenengaged by said dwell portion of said cam member.
 12. A hinge assemblyaccording to claim 11, wherein said cam member includes at least a pairof said dwell portions, and said laterally-enlarged lobe portion of saidcam member is disposed generally at the intersection of said dwellportions in order to cause said leaf spring means to tend to forciblyurge the door into said predetermined relative rotational orientationrelative to the housing structure when said leaf spring means is engagedby said laterally-enlarged lobe portion.
 13. A hinge assembly accordingto claim 11, wherein said cam member includes at least a pair of saiddwell portions thereon, said laterally-enlarged lobe portion beingdisposed between said dwell portions, said dwell portions engaging saidleaf spring means at a corresponding pair of said predetermined relativerotational orientations of the door and the housing structure, said leafspring means tending to resiliently and releasably maintain the door andthe housing structure in each of said predetermined relative rotationalorientations when engaged by the corresponding dwell portion of said cammember.
 14. A hinge assembly according to claim 13, wherein said leafspring means is secured to the door, said leaf spring means beinglaterally and resiliently deflected by said cam member during at least aportion of said rotational movement of said cam member and the doorrelative to the housing structure.
 15. A hinge assembly according toclaim 13, wherein the accessory housing structure is a vehicle windowvisor adapted for housing a vanity assembly, the door being pivotallyinterconnected to said visor for rotational movement between an openposition exposing said vanity assembly and a closed position coveringsaid vanity assembly, said predetermined relative rotationalorientations of the door relative to the visor corresponding to saidopen and closed door positions.
 16. A hinge assembly according to claim13, wherein the accessory housing structure is a vehicle head restraintadapted for housing a vanity assembly, the door being pivotallyinterconnected to said head restraint for rotational movement between anopen position exposing said vanity assembly and a closed positioncovering said vanity assembly, said predetermined relative rotationalorientations of the door relative to the head restraint corresponding tosaid open and closed door positions. .Iadd.
 17. A spring-loaded hingeassembly for interconnecting an accessory door with an accessory housingstructure for a vehicle, said hinge assembly comprising: pivot meanspivotally interconnecting the door with the housing structure forrelative rotational movement of the door and the housing structure withrespect to one another about a longitudinally-extending axis; a cammember protruding in a generally lateral direction from one of the dooror the housing structure for relative rotational movement therewith;said cam member having at least one dwell portion thereon; leaf springmeans on the other of the door or the housing structure, said leafspring means being resiliently deflectably engageable by said cam memberfor exerting a resilient biasing force on said cam member; and supportmeans interconnected with one of the door or the housing structure forsupporting said leaf spring means in a direction generally opposite thedirection of said engagement of said leaf spring means by said cammember, said support means supporting said leaf spring means at least attwo spaced-apart support locations thereon, said cam member deflectablyengaging said leaf spring means at a medial location thereon betweensaid spaced-apart support locations during at least a portion of saidrelative rotational movement of the door and the housing structure, saidleaf spring means tending to maintain the door and the housing structurein a predetermined relative rotational orientation with respect to oneanother when engaged by said dwell portion of said cam member. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 18. A hinge assembly according to claim 17, wherein said leafspring means is secured to one of the door or the housing structure,said leaf spring means being laterally and resiliently deflected by saidcam member during at least a portion of said relative rotationalmovement of the door and the housing structure. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. Ahinge assembly according to claim 17, wherein said cam member includes alaterally-enlarged lobe portion disposed generally adjacent said dwellportion, said leaf spring means being resiliently and generallylaterally deflected by said cam member to a greater extent when engagedby said laterally-enlarged lobe portion of said cam member than whenengaged by said dwell portion of said cam member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. Ahinge assembly according to claim 19, wherein said cam member includesat least a pair of said dwell portions, and said laterally-enlarged lobeportion of said cam member is disposed generally at the intersection ofsaid dwell portion in order to cause said leaf spring means to tend toforcibly urge the door and the housing structure into said predeterminedrelative rotational orientation when said leaf spring means is engagedby said laterally-enlarged lobe portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. A hingeassembly according to claim 19, wherein said cam member includes atleast a pair of said dwell portions thereon, said laterally-enlargedlobe portion being disposed between said dwell portions, said dwellportions engaging said leaf spring means at a corresponding pair of saidpredetermined relative rotational orientations of the door and thehousing structure, said leaf spring means tending to resiliently andreleasably maintain the door and the housing structure in each of saidpredetermined relative rotational orientations when engaged by thecorresponding dwell portion of said cam member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. Ahinge assembly according to claim 21, wherein said leaf spring means issecured to one of the door or the housing structure, said leaf springmeans being laterally and resiliently deflected by said cam memberduring at least a portion of said relative rotational movement of thedoor and the housing structure. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. A hinge assemblyaccording to claim 21, wherein the housing structure is a vehicle windowvisor adapted for housing a vanity assembly, the door being pivotallyinterconnected to said visor for said relative rotational movementbetween an open position exposing said vanity assembly and a closedposition covering said vanity assembly, said predetermined relativerotational orientations of the door and the visor corresponding to saidopen and closed door positions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. A hinge assemblyaccording to claim 21, wherein the accessory housing structure is avehicle head restraint adapted for housing a vanity assembly, the doorbeing pivotally interconnected to said head restraint for said relativerotational movement between an open position exposing said vanityassembly and a closed position covering said vanity assembly, saidpredetermined relative rotational orientations of the door and the headrestraint corresponding to said open and closed door positions..Iaddend.